2026

The Winter Olympics have inspired, excited, and left me with a feeling of awe. It wasn't who won the medals.  It was witnessing a magnificent salute to discipline, strength, comaraderie, passion - and focus on detail.  From my cozy couch I applauded, cringed when someone fell, held my breath at the upside down twists and turns.  

While glued to the televison I kept seeing a sign that said: Extraordinary is Everywhere.  And thought - How perfect  for these extraordinary Olympians.  

And today I thought  - perhaps the sign was also a reminder for each of us.  No matter where we are - there is something extraordinary happening.  Maybe it's just weeds pushing through dry concrete.  A squirrel flying from branch to branch.  With just a smidgen of focus we can see, hear, and feel the extraordinary.

Thank you Olympians. You've encouraged us to see the extra in what we thought was ordinary.

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A President's Day message from George Washington ...

'Human Happiness and Moral Duty are inseparably connected.'

I believe he went on to say moral duty must come first.

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I grew up in Lancashire.  Think Wigan, Warrington, Leigh (my home town).  Both my brothers played Rugby League.  Every game was a Super Bowl. Admission was a whole shilling, or 14 cents.  We never missed a game.   My brothers and I were at the Bolton Rugby Disaster on March 9, 1946  when the stands collapsed, killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds more. We lived and loved Rugby.

Having heard these stories, my family is aware I know a lot about rugby.  Close to zero about (American) football.  So, when they heard I was going to watch the Super Bowl with friends they said - Really?  Why? Crash football course?

There is no problem explaining why.  It's not the football, not the food, not the half time, not seeing and sharing the excitement in the Stadium. Not comparing it to Rugby.

I will watch the Super Bowl to enjoy the warmth of friends in the room. They don't care what I know.  They don't care if I brought dessert. They don't care if I'm wearing team colors. They don't even care if I cheer for the wrong team. 

The friends in the room care that I care.  That I want to be with them.  Whatever is headlined, friends always get top billing.

That's why this football dummy shows up. AND has fun.

Go team (whoever you are).

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When jingle bells hold forth during the magical Holiday season my brain smiles. 

Instead of sleighs and Christmas decorations I think of old radio and television jingles.  I sing them

with abandon.

Plop. Plop. Fizz. Fizz. Oh, what a relief it is. Brylcreem-a little dab'll do ya.  The Best Part of Waking Up.

Sometimes you feel like a nut-Sometimes you don't.  See the USA in a Chevrolet. I remember every word.

Chilly days have kept me inside more. I even watched television. Now I see  people dancing through a grocery store. A group dressed for

snorkeling squashed into an elevator.  Youngsters telling me which home improvement company I should hire.

 A large Emu owner in strange scenarios - as 'performer' for an insurance company.

Jingles helped me remember the product decades later.  I could sing along with them.  And yes - we bought a Chevrolet.  We usd

Folgers coffee.  We loved Almond Joys.  Jingles were brain food.  We felt a strange kind of loyalty. The current commercials?   I have no idea who or what

they are promoting.

I'd like to teach the world to sing ... in perfect harmony ... Oh yes.

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Some years ago, my family gathered in the North Carolina mountains for a Reunion.  Great excitement.  We enjoy each other’s company.  When the hugs and telling each other how wonderful we looked were over, I made an announcement to the Clan.

Here are the rules of the Reunion said the spoiler.  “There will be no talking about aches and pains, operations, creaky knees or medical appointments.”   Shock.  My brother Jim said …What are we going to talk about?’  We all laughed.

We agreed that with age – along with the promised wisdom - come less-welcome reminders the clock is ticking.  How will we handle the reminders? A question worthy of serious family discussion.

In this morning’s New York Times, a columnist offers an observation on aging.   His words are more elegant.  His conclusion mirrors what we decided would be our family watchword going forward.  He says: I can be sad and angry about time’s toll, and rue what has been lost. Or I can work with what remains.

It was a memorable Reunion.  Our numbers have dwindled.  Our promise to ourselves and each other has stayed intact.   Work with what remains.

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